Yes! and the Foul

Finally on Team Carmelo

Archive for category Knicks Banter

Bill Simmons: Unlikely source of reason for Knicks fans!

Feb 25

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, NBA Talk | No Comments

After a weeks of hearing that the Knicks didn’t have any desirable assets to give up in a Carmelo trade, all of the sudden Donnie gave up too many assets.  WHAT?!  You can’t make it up, really.  Any chance the media has to kick the Knicks and Jim Dolan, they are going to do it, even if there is no consistency, rhyme or reason to it.  We have to hear how Carmelo is only a top 20 player now, when before the trade he was a top 5 talent.  We have to hear all about Isiah Thomas conspiracy theories.  We have to hear that Deron Williams is a better player than Carmelo, and that finding an elite point guard – what Donnie really should’ve been doing – is the toughest thing to do in this league…  even if I can rattle off ten ‘elite’ point guards (or soon to be ‘elite’) off the top of my head: 1. Williams, 2. Paul, 3. Nash, 4. Rondo, 5. Rose, 6. Westbrook, 7. Parker, 8. Wall, 9. Steph Curry, 10. Billups (Oh yeah, we also got him in this trade in a MAJOR upgrade over Felton for the next season and a half). If you’re keeping count, that means a third of the teams in the league have ‘elite’ point guards.

There’s no talk about how the Knicks struggled all season in fourth quarters, but now have one of the most clutch players in the league in Melo, and a steady closer in Billups whose free throw ability may as well make him basketball’s equivalent of Mariano Rivera.   Add that to Amare who was leading the league in 4th quarter scoring this season, and the Knicks should have the ability to close out a lot of close games that they couldn’t before.  There’s also little talk about how Carmelo will open up the floor for Amare (and the rest of the Knicks) and make scoring a lot easier for the team.  Before teams double and tripled on Amare and forced the rest of the inconsistent Knicks cast to beat them.  Can’t do that anymore.

Anyway, as a Knicks fan, there a lot of reason to love this trade.  A lot of reason to be a happy camper, even if there isn’t much love from ESPN, TNT and the rest of the national media.  But, in case you need reassurance about the trade, go on and read Bill Simmons write up on the trade deadline.  Only love for the Knicks and what they did.  Celebrate!!

 

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Will an inconsistent season force the Knicks hand on Carmelo?

Feb 15

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Hypotheticals, Knicks Banter | No Comments

The Knicks are on pace for a .500 season.  Maybe.  They might be on the verge of winning 9 of 10 and making a strong run for the rest of the season.  Or they might only win only 2 of their next 10 games, struggle to make the playoffs, and I wouldn’t be surprised.  It’s been that kind of season.

But inconsistency was expected.  When you are starting two rookies on some nights (Fields and Mozgov), and/or two young players (Chandler and Gallo) who still have a difficult time asserting themselves in games, AND you can’t rebound and give other teams numerous second chances, our sense of how good this team really is blows wildly between pessimism and optimism.

During the latest downturn it’s easy to feel like Gallo, Chandler and Fields are worth giving up for that one legit superstar in Melo — a player who can take over games when it’s on the line.  But Donnie is a big picture kind of guy.  He has patience.  He’s seen players slowly and gradually improve.  He has a better sense than any of us what Gallo’s ceiling is, what Fields potential is, etc.  But, after 10 years of Knicks frustration and a unpredictable team owner, can Donnie afford to not strike a deal, even if it means selling the farm?

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Say What?! (v.2, Chris Broussard on Lebron, now…)

Dec 2

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, NBA Talk | No Comments

He championed Lebron taking his talents to South Beach, and was the first to guess report that’s where Lebron would go, but now Chris Broussard of ESPN is changing his tune.  He’d just like to clarify that Lebron would’ve been a better fit in New York with Amar’e.  He’d also like to clarify that Amar’e is a better player than Bosh.  And, he’d also like to mention “no one was saying any of this” when it happened (nevermind his own colleagues, or most of the partial New York media).  [ ESPN New York ]

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The Knicks through 18 games

Nov 30

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter | No Comments

They’re 9-9, and pretty much as advertised.  The Knicks have shown themselves to be an entertaining, competitive team that desperately needs to find some consistency and a steady third option.  But, what do we know now that we didn’t know about the Knicks before the season started?

Amar’e really is good enough to carry a team. At the beginning of the season, Amar’e was extremely turnover prone and being asked to run isolation plays that seemed to expose his flaws.  He was missing free throws.  He simply seemed out of rhythm and perhaps not ready for the role he was being thrust in.  But, as the season has gone on, he’s learned when not to force the issue, his post moves and abilities are coming along rapidly, he’s hitting big late game free throws (and threes), and he’s even making big defensive plays.  He’s a willing leader and team spokesman, and he has an unwavering confidence that the rest of the team is riding on.

This team needs Turiaf in the lineup. Without him, the defense struggles immensely as both Amar’e and Chandler are forced to play and defend out of position.  On offense, Turiaf plays within the system and moves the ball really well.  He’s probably the smartest player on the team and brings much needed energy to the starting unit.

Gallo’s early struggles have helped him develop the rest of his game. Gallo hasn’t been inconsistent as much as just really bad for the first 8 or so games, and much, much better as the season has gone on.  Gallo finally heard the demands that he start taking the ball to the basket more, and to use his mid-range game.  As he’s done this he’s developed an incredible ability to draw fouls, rely less on the three, and become remarkably efficient on the offensive end.

Randolph looks like he’s never been coached. And maybe he never really has.  It’s just bizarre.  Hopefully he’ll get his chance and take advantage of whatever minutes come his way.  I think most, including myself, penciled in a bigger contribution from AR.

Felton isn’t who we want him to be, but you know, he’s actually pretty darn good. Yeah, he has a really difficult time threading passes in the pick and roll, and considering Amar’e is an incredible PnR finisher in traffic, it’s really troubling.  But Felton finally looks like a guy who is playing within himself and his strengths.  He’s been aggressive and brings effort every night.  He’s attacking and shooting well, and is proving to lead with his effort.

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Say What?! (v.1)

Oct 29

Posted by YesandtheFoul in Knicks Banter, NBA Talk | 2 Comments

UPDATE: In what is surely an ESPN first, Chad Ford admits he blew it and takes himself to task for missing the boat on Landry Fields.  Kudos to the blusterless Ford, one of just a handful of journalists who actually does his work on researching NBA prospects.  In reality, most writers are forming their opinions almost exclusively from his scouting reports (and those on DraftExpress) without giving due credit.   This is why the Fields pick drew such a strong negative reaction — since Chad Ford didn’t know about Fields, no one knew about Fields.  Except Donnie, thankfully.

After sucking for the last decade, it’s been easy to talk smack about the Knicks. Admittedly, a lot of it is deserved—this team has stunk. But, so much of the dialogue has become lazy and convenient, perpetuating lazy and ignorant generalizations about the team, the coach and it’s players. You just have to wonder to yourself “Are these guys even paying attention?!” It’s become frustrating enough to start a new feature: “Say What?!”

The idea stemmed from a conversation with my brother. What got him/us going in this particular case was Charles Barkley going on record to say the Nets will be better than the Knicks. I mean come on, really Charles?! You think the Knicks are going to be that bad? Sure the Nets are improved, but not that improved. How soon into the season before Chuck is telling everyone “Don’t sleep on the Knicks” or something along those lines?

With that, It seemed like a great time to start a collection of both dubious and astonishingly insightful quotes about the Knicks. Hopefully, when the dialogue finally turns positive on the Knicks, we can remember who was getting it right and who was getting it wrong.

On drafting Landry Fields…

We’ll start by revisiting an easy topic: universally panned, second round draft pick, Landry Fields. Or, as he’s now known, our starting guard. I thought it would be nice to go down memory lane and revisit what was said then.

“Knicks take Landry Fields with their second pick. Fields wasn’t in my Top 100. First time a team drafts a player out of my Top 100 in yrs” [ Chad Ford ]

NEW YORK KNICKS GRADE: D
Round 1: None; Round 2: Andy Rautins (38), Landry Fields (39)
Analysis: The Knicks had a pretty weird draft. I can understand taking Rautins somewhat. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni loves shooters and Rautins is the J.J. Redick of the draft. But drafting Fields is puzzling. Yes, he’s a great athlete who was one of the best scorers in the Pac-10 last season. But he was not ranked in our top 100 and I couldn’t find another scout who had him in the top 60. Maybe the Knicks know something that we don’t, but with so much talent left on the board, it seems that New York may regret its decisions eventually. [ ESPN Insider - Chad Ford ]

A lots of draft gurus and scouts slept on Fields, but it was these quotes from Ford that led to the rest of the media absolutely killing the Knicks for their draft selections. Because of Ford, everyone became an expert on a player they hadn’t seen. Ironically, and to his credit, Ford might have been the only one to give Donnie the benefit of doubt.

But seeing how Fields is already showing to be a very capable contributor, you have to wonder what the hell was everyone talking about?! Next year at draft time, Ford and everyone else will be telling us how wonderful Donnie is the draft.

On trading for Carmelo Anthony…

When 90% of the voices out there are saying the Knicks HAVE to trade for Carmelo, I thought it’d be interesting to post what unexpected voice of reason, Bill Walton, has to say on the matter.

Michael Kay: Do you think Carmelo Anthony is a good fit with Stoudemire? Their styles?
Legend Bill Walton: No. Carmelo to me does not have what it takes to be the great player. He puts up nice numbers? He makes a great salary… media, publicity and all likes him. But, does he help you win the games? Does he make the squad better. Does he pull guys together. I mean, it hasn’t happened in Denver at all, and… I’m a big Amar’e Stoudemire fan. I will hold my tongue on Carmelo. [ Walton on ESPN radio, Oct 28, 2010]

Time will tell, but at least Walton is giving Knicks fans something to think about, instead of the same canned insight on Carmelo.

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